J-S Letter: Alderman should not have voted on Landlord Registration Ordinance

I have been a keen observer of the fight over the Landlord Registration Ordinance. Living in a blighted neighborhood I, quite naturally, supported the ordinance.

Comment

By Special to The Journal-Standard

Journal Standard

By Special to The Journal-Standard

Posted Nov. 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Special to The Journal-Standard
Posted Nov. 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM

I have been a keen observer of the fight over the Landlord Registration Ordinance. Living in a blighted neighborhood I, quite naturally, supported the ordinance.

The vote was 5-1, with Ald. Koester and Boldt being absent. The lone vote against was cast by Ald. Sally Brashaw. It should be of no surprise that she would vote against this ordinance. She is of course a landlord. According to a recent search of the Freeport Township Assessor's records she owns 18 properties. She is also a member of the Freeport Area Landlords Association.

Are the interests of the sixth ward being met? Are the interests of Freeport being met by such an obvious conflict of interests? Hardly.

What a stark contrast between the sixth's ward former alderman, Scott Helms. Scott started and supported the idea of landlord registration several months ago. I firmly believe that if he hadn't raised the issue it probably never would have gotten done.

Ald. Brashaw should have not participated in the weeks long debate and many votes over this ordinance. While her participation might have been "legal" it had the overwhelming odor of self interest. Freeport and the sixth ward deserve better.